Friday, March 21, 2014

Pharrell Makes His Mark and it's a Plus Sign

By now you've heard Pharrell Williams's worldwide phenomenon, "Happy." The song, from the film "Despicable Me 2" was nominated for a 2014 Oscar. I have a feeling Mr. Williams doesn't mind that he didn't take the prize. Do you remember the song that won? I don't.

I knew nothing about the International Day of Happiness, but Williams has taken part and "Happy" is the theme song. I like it in all the video renditions I've found:

[Verse 2:]
Here come bad news talking this and that, yeah,
Well, give me all you got, and don’t hold back, yeah,
Well, I should probably warn you I’ll be just fine, yeah,
No offense to you, don’t waste your time
Here’s why
Because I'm happy...

"Happy" has a PR machine behind it, but I think it caught on because people are into the message: "You can try, but you can't knock me off my center because I choose to be happy." Yessir, happiness is a choice.

Now, if I'm in the process of being attacked or I'm at the point of starvation, that's too glib. But many of us live in less dire situations and we still grumble. ("My lumbago hurts"..."I have too much work to do"..."Wall Street bankers are crooks..." Well, they are.)

But poo on that, as Verse 2 addresses. I choose to be happy anyway. Some days I forget it's in my power, which is why I have little signs taped all over my wall.

I've been home all week with a cold and have barely moved from my armchair. I thank Pharrell Williams and video shooters around the world for the regular reminders that I have nothing to complain about. I have one hell of an earworm but I'm in a good mood.

I'm not sure I'll look for it, Ben. And thanks for the suggestion of the Kiev video. It's political, as you said. And the comments are interesting.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B5AXBFeRLM&feature=youtu.be

I always have at least one song stuck in my head. Usually a medley. I have no power over that, but sometimes I can choose what it's going to be. Otherwise I'll pick up something awful from the grocery store sound track. Right now I have Happy/I'd Do Anything for Love/Love Needs a Heart. I worked hard to get these but soon enough they'll be overtaken by Sugar Sugar/Wipeout/Soldier Boy.

I'm glad the videos had subtitles because I always thought he was singing Clap alone, not Clap along. I really like the original video, shot in places in LA, quite a few of which I recognized. The PCC one was really good as well. Thanks for the 10 minutes of Happy!